On Stage: The Book of Mormon' comes to Philly

“The Book of Mormon,” the nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical from the creators of South Park begins July 29 at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia and plays a limited seven-week engagement through September 14.

Avon Grove Community Theater (ACT) will present The Wizard of Oz for two weekends at the Ware Center on the campus of Lincoln University, 1570 Old Baltimore Pike, Lincoln University, Pa. Friday, July 18, 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 20, 2 p.m.; Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m.; Friday, July 25, 7 p.m.; Saturday, July 26, 2: p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 27, 2 p.m. The Avon Grove Community Theater revival features a cast of more than 40 local performers led alternately by Leah Kohl (Newark, DE) and Bailey Wilson (Parkesburg) as Dorothy, the charming young girl from Kansas. The supporting cast includes Susan Schwaneflugel as Aunt Em (Lincoln University), Wes Mirello as Uncle Henry (Lincoln University), Maria Leonetti as Glinda the Good Witch (Philadelphia), Michelle Nardi (Landenberg) and Gina Fritz (Oxford) double-casted as the Wicked Witch, Antonio Cosentino (Oxford) as the Tin Man, Peter Hayes (Unionville) as the Scarecrow, Jacob Billings (Nottingham) as the Cowardly Lion, Chris Murray (Oxford) as Professor Marvel/The Wizard and Danny Drennan (Landenberg) as Oz Guard and Mayor. ACT’s production of The Wizard of Oz is directed by Daniel Schmitt, a veteran performer, director and devoted fan of the Wizard of Oz (Newark, DE) with choral director Kyle Sheuing (Kennett Square), a teacher at Kennett Middle School who has just completed their own production of The Wizard of Oz. This production also features a live orchestra directed by recording artist and Moravian College music professor, Dr. Debra Torok. Tickets for reserved seating can be purchased by clicking on Dorothy’s ruby slippers, at www.actheater.org, and at the door if available. All performances are expected to sell out so purchase your tickets early. Tickets are $18/adult, $15/students and seniors 62+. Prices are the same online as at the door.

People’s Light & Theatre presents the regional premiere of Itamar Moses’ acclaimed comedy “Bach at Leipzig” running July 12-August 10, 2014 on the Steinbright Stage. Associate Artistic Director Pete Pryor directs. People’s Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, Pa. 19355. For tickets call 610.644.3500 or visit PeoplesLight.org. Itamar Moses (Boardwalk Empire) sets his historical romp in 1722 Leipzig, Germany, where the world’s greatest organist, Johann Kuhnau, has just died in the middle of a frenzied fugue. Seven men, all claiming to be Kuhnau’s worthy successor, flock to the famous Thomaskirche (or St. Thomas Church), where Kuhnau presided over the music for Church services and the adjacent school. Blackmail and back-stabbing mix with debates on religion, philosophy, and politics as the men attempt to outdo each other in order to win Kuhnau’s prestigious position. People’s Light continues its program called Scoop on Sundays: History, Context, and Gossip, a lively discussion before every Sunday 7 pm performance (July 20, 27, & August 3, 10). Resident Dramaturg Gina Pisasale will host an artist from the production and get the inside scoop about such things as the rehearsal and production process, design choices, and the world of the play. The program begins at 5:30 in The Farmhouse Bistro. Cost of $15 includes light fare. Call the Box Office at 610-644-3500. Enjoy a prix fixe dinner and a show package for $70 (Wed, Thurs, Sat matinee, Sun eve) and $80 (Fri, Sat eve, Sun matinee) at The Farmhouse Bistro prior to Wed-Sun evening performances. That’s a savings of up to 15% off the single ticket price! If you already have tickets, you can add dinner for just $35. Dinner and a show packages are available through the box office or online at PeoplesLight.org. “Bach at Leipzig” runs through Sunday, August 10. Audiences are encouraged to join the artists for a conversation about the production after the Thursday performances on July 17, 24, 31 and August 7. Single tickets: $26 - $46. For tickets, call the Box Office at 610-644-3500. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610-647-1900 x111 or email wright@peopleslight.org.

Summer at Hedgerow Theatre has come to mean it’s time for a farce, and this year is no exception. The tradition of sublime silliness continues with “The 39 Steps,” Patrick Barlow’s Tony Award-winning spoof of the Alfred Hitchcock film that was deemed “absurdly enjoyable” by The New York Times. The production runs now through August 17. Anyone familiar only with Hitchcock’s 1935 classic, based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan, may wonder how this spy thriller can be a farce. Barlow’s brilliant 2005 adaptation follows the same basic plot about a man falsely accused of murder who has to expose an international espionage ring to prove his innocence. The difference here is that one actor plays the hero, Richard Hannay, while all of the more than 150 zany people he encounters on his quest are portrayed by just three actors, making lightning-fast costume changes. It’s all played for laughs, while also fondly alluding to many other of Hitchcock’s films. Adult ticket prices for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are $34; Thursday shows are $29. There is a $3 discount for seniors. Tickets for 30 and under are $20; for students with valid ID they are $15. For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $18. Prices include all fees and are subject to change. For reservations or more info, call 610-565-4211 or visit www.HedgerowTheatre.org. Hedgerow Theatre is located at 64 Rose Valley Road in Rose Valley (near Media).

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Brandywine Ballet Company will perform in Delaware County’s Summer Festival at Rose Tree Park’s Amphitheater, Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. Celebrating 35 years as one of the most respected regional ballet companies, Brandywine Ballet will perform mixed classical and contemporary repertoire, featuring excerpts from Colour Brillanté by resident choreographer Nancy Page, as well as two original works by Tim Early. The company is proud to welcome to the performance dancers from Brandywine Contemporary, a new arm of the organization incorporating modern, jazz and lyrical dance, led by Tim Early. The performance at Rose Tree Park is admission-free and open to the public. Rose Tree Park’s performance venue is a scenic hillside amphitheater, which features four grass terraces and is conveniently located at Route 252 & Rose Tree Road, just off Route 1. Concessions are for sale at all concerts. A powerhouse of large ensemble work, Romanesque sets, and vivid attire, Nancy Page’s title piece Colour Brillanté is perfectly suited for an open-air, summer performance with its lush visual style and the vibrant music of Antonin Dvorak. In addition to an impressive cast size, Colour Brillanté is also an opportunity to see Brandywine Ballet principal dancers in breathtaking solos and pas de deux. Previous performances of Colour Brillanté have exhibited the seemingly effortless ability of the Brandywine Ballet to uplift and inspire long after the curtains close. For more inforrmation, go to www.brandywineballet.com.

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jon Stewart of The Daily Show calls it “a crowning achievement. So good it makes me angry.” It’s “The Book of Mormon,” the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical from the creators of South Park. Contains explicit language. “The Book of Mormon” begins July 29 at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia and plays a limited seven-week engagement through September 14. In Philadelphia, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $27 apiece. The performance schedule is: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m.; Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m.; matinees Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 800-447-7400, online at www.telecharge.com or at the Forrest Theatre box office, 1114 Walnut St, Phila. Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 866-276-2947 or 215-790-5883. For more information, please visit www.forrest-theatre.com or www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway.

Rainbow Dinner Theatre announces the opening of their summer offering “Always A Bridesmaid.” Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, this creative team, with ties to television’s Golden Girls, spins a hilarious tale of four women who swore to be in each other’s weddings no matter what life held in store for them. Join them as they say yes to the dress, in a comedic journey that spans seven years of their friendship. Male or female, old or young, there is something in “Always A Bridesmaid” for everyone. The production runs now to August 9. For reservations call 1-800-292-4301 or go online to Rainbowdinnertheatre.com. Rainbow Dinner Theatre is located at 3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, Pa. 17562.